Bubbly Basin Expansion Pass: What Is Actually Inside
The pass is one $34.99 purchase for three waves. Part 1 is a full underwater town with ~50 new Pokémon, buoyant building, and a new crop loop. Dive itself is free - the town and exclusive Pokémon are paid.
Core question: is the Expansion Pass worth buying, how do you get into Bubbly Basin, and what do you get that the free 2.0 update does not give you? Short answer: Dive is free for everyone; the town, exclusive Pokémon, and most new items are paid.
Free 2.0 Update vs Paid Pass
| Free 2.0 | Paid Part 1 |
|---|---|
| Dive (taught by Manaphy) | Bubbly Basin underwater town |
| Quality-of-life: bulk storage moves, shared storage | Exclusive Pokémon (~50-slot Basin dex) |
| Swim under existing water | Buoyant blocks and floating houses |
| Watermelon crop, smoothies, ocean furniture | |
| Starmie Dream Island doll, Sharpedo sub room, deep dark trench |
Should You Buy Now?
| Buy now if | Wait if |
|---|---|
| You finished (or nearly finished) Bleak Beach Environment Level 5, want a big new sandbox, and are fine paying for two later drops you have not seen yet. | You are still missing a chunk of the base dex. The DLC does not require a complete base dex, but the loop is the same (habitats → environment level → requests), so unfinished base towns will compete for your attention. |
1Unlock Path in Exact Order
Skipping a step is why "content is not yet available" appears or Popplio never shows.
- 1Own the pass and force the update.
From the Switch 2 home screen, highlight Pokopia → + → Software Update → Via the Internet. Reloading the game alone is not always enough.
- 2Finish Bleak Beach "Raise the Environment Level!"
Reach Environment Level 5 and rebuild the Pokémon Center there if you have not.
- 3Have Surf (Lapras)
so you can reach Manaphy's island.
- 4Talk to Professor Tangrowth
outside the Bleak Beach Pokémon Center. He points you to a small island opposite Meowth's house.
- 5Surf there and give Manaphy 5 Seaweed.
That teaches Dive. Walk into water; a bubble appears and you can go under. Hold ZL to hover, R to rise.
- 6Return to the Bleak Beach Pokémon Center.
Popplio appears only if the pass is installed. Talk to them.
- 7Dive near the Pokémon Center
and find the gate - look for lampposts, pathing, and a barrel, then a small cave. Scan the gate with your Pokédex.
2First Hours in Bubbly Basin
- 1Follow Popplio to the center
and talk again.
- 2Raise Bubbly Basin Environment Level to 3
by placing habitats and attracting Pokémon. The starting population is too low to rank up on décor alone.
- 3Place a house
so you can fast-travel back.
- 4At EL 3, talk to Popplio again
for the "Build the beautiful building" request - an underwater temple.
- 5Buy the Pokémon Center rebuild kit
from the PC (~1,000 Life Coins) and rebuild it.
- 6After the temple and Center,
Tangrowth unlocks "Raise the Environment Level" for the Basin - target EL 5, then keep going to 10, where many recipes and furniture lock.
3What You Are Collecting
- 1~50 Basin-exclusive Pokémon.
Player lists cluster around water lines: Popplio-Primarina, Mudkip-Swampert, Totodile-Feraligatr, Staryu/Starmie, Chinchou/Lanturn, Corsola, Corphish/Crawdaunt, Carvanha/Sharpedo, Buizel/Floatzel, Finneon/Lumineon, Frillish/Jellicent, Wimpod/Golisopod, Dhelmise, Stunfisk, and more.
- 2Habitats to build first.
Basin Tall Grass, coral combos, swaying flower beds plus seaweed, sandy digging spots - the simple grass/flower/coral ones spike EL fastest.
- 3Area-unique materials.
Blue Cave Rock, corals, Lush Seaweed, Grubby/Shiny Pearls, Sea Grapes, Sea Moss, Seabed Flowers, Watermelon, Mossy Ocean Soil, Star-spotted Rock.
- 4Recipes.
Some auto-unlock at EL 10, some sit in hidden map spots and whirlpools, some are bought at the PC, and a few only appear after you Receive items in the Downloadable Content menu. Save before closing after a long shop session.
- 5Collector items.
Starmie doll (new Dream Island), Ocean Door, Ocean Pals Rug, Seashell Fencing, Portal Pod, Harp, Windup Inkay, and the Sharpedo one-room sub.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Expecting Bubbly Basin without buying the pass. Dive alone is not the town.
- Not forcing the software update from the home-screen + menu.
- Skipping Bleak Beach EL 5, then wondering why the gate or Popplio never appears.
- Forgetting to Receive DLC recipes in the Downloadable Content menu.
- Trying to max EL with décor before any new Pokémon live there.
- Fully boxing a buoyant house and getting water clipping inside.
- Assuming Part 2 is another town. It is accessories plus some extra Pokémon, no new map.
- Quitting without saving after a long recipe or PC shop session.